Progress

73 signed

427 more needed

Sign the Petition to

US Senate and House of Representatives

As a constituent, I'm writing to ask you to cosponsor the Mental Health First Aid Act (H.R. 274).

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is a public education program that helps people identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The course trains participants in a 5-step action plan to recognize the signs/symptoms of mental illness, respond to a person in crisis and direct them to professional help.

H.R. 274 authorizes $20 million for FY 2014 for grants to train emergency services personnel, police officers, teachers/school administrators, faith community leaders, primary care professionals, and students in MHFA. This training is critical to reducing the stigma around mental illness and addictions and getting people connected to the professional resources they need.

Will you please sign on as a cosponsor to this important legislation? Thank you for your time and attention to this issue.

Signed,

National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

This petition closed over 3 years ago

How this will help

Every year, mental illness and addiction disorders take a tremendous toll on our families and our communities. About one in five Americans experience a mental health or substance use condition,...

Every year, mental illness and addiction disorders take a tremendous toll on our families and our communities. About one in five Americans experience a mental health or substance use condition, according to data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. While many people know how to provide first aid in a health emergency, few know what to do for someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

Please help build support in Congress for passing the Mental Health First Aid Act by asking your Senators and Representative to be cosponsors (or thanking them if they've already signed on)! The more cosponsors a bill has, the greater its likelihood of being enacted into law.